The initial reaction when it was announced that Jerry Manuel would take over the managerial reins of the Mets was that he’s just like Willie Randolph. Just more of the same old, same old. Is this move really going to change anything?

Manuel may be laid-back like Randolph, but he’s already proven that he’s no pushover. He may be nice but he’s tough (hey, he calls himself a gangster). He takes his role as the authority seriously. His first test came only one play into his first game at the helm. When Jose Reyes threw his tantrum, Manuel dealt with it right away, going down into the clubhouse to confront the shortstop. He didn’t have to bench Reyes the next game because the problem was already solved by the fourth inning. And Manuel insisted it will not happen again because he (jokingly) said he would pull out his blade and cut Reyes. To be honest, there just aren’t enough stabbings in the Major Leagues these days.

The former infielder (Detroit, Montreal, San Diego; 1975–82) managed the White Sox for six seasons, from 1998–03, and compiled a .516 winning percentage. He won the American League Manager of the Year award in 2000, leading Chicago to the Central Division title (but were swept by Seattle in the opening round of the playoffs). Further proof that he’s not a clone of his predecessor is the number of times he’s been ejected as a manager: 19. That number includes a whopping 10 times in 2003. Willie didn’t even argue 19 times in his managerial career let alone get thrown out of a game (he may have fallen asleep in the dugout that many times, though).

Manuel has shown a breeziness with the media that Randolph never had (with the exception being the former manager’s last weekend when the Grim Reaper was hanging over his head). Whether he’s joking that he has one foot on the top step of the dugout before the game even starts when Oliver Perez is pitching or threatening to stab his star shortstop, he’s already given us more one-liners than Randolph and Art Howe had in five-and-a-half years.

And for an interim manager, he’s quickly proclaimed a number of changes and ideas that he’d like to implement―occasionally using the two hole in the lineup to insert a struggling player so he’ll see more fastballs, having more defined roles in the bullpen, and resting his starters more so they’ll be fresher, creating an atmosphere more conducive to success (and he wants to try and rest them on the road, so the fans at Shea can see them every home game―should he really be worrying about things like that, though?).

Maybe Jerry Manuel will give the team a fresh outlook and create a better atmosphere and culture for the team. Maybe they can compete for a playoff spot. Or maybe this group of players just can’t get it done. But Manuel has given the team and their fans some hope. He may not be a gangster but he’s not Willie Randolph, either.